Its turning intoo a track car ....

[scotty_24]

Brought the car in to work today, theres a fluid leak on the floor of my new garage. Smells like box oil. Is there any common leaks on them?
Im going to top it up today and see how much its lost. I'll also clean the oil off and try to establish where the leaks from.
I have Croft on 25 May so may just need to run a constant chassis lubrication system (oil leak) untill then ha ha

For anyone wanting to top up their gearbox oil see here


http://workshop-manuals.com/audi/a3...anual_gearbox_with_bevel_box_and_filling_up./

 

[SamHendry]

Marshalls at croft are gonna love you! Hope it's not too bad a leak! Not bad enough to stop you doing a track day.

Only seals I'm aware of on the gearbox are the three Orings between the transfer box and gearbox. No doubt there is more but personally never had a box apart so me don't know you could change them three Orings without pulling the whole box off..

I would have a look in that area mate between the transfer box and gearbox if you haven't already but as you will already know locating leaks is so difficult!

 

[scotty_24]

Ok so had it on the ramps last night.
All is looking good since the chinafold was fitted.
The oil cooler sandwich plate is bone dry too. This has been a worry for me after seeing a mates EP3 on track massivley loose oil pressure as the sandwich plate worked loose!

Oil leak wise, I raised the car and found the oil fill hole on the front of the box.
To gain access I removed the 13mm bolt securing the power steering pipe to the box.
The drain plug is a 17mm hex, undid that and oil started pouring out the box.
This is good! It means the box hasnt lost any oil. I refilled the box and put the plug back in, reattached the PAS pipe.
Brake cleanered the whole lot to clean off the oil.

It seems as though the oil is sitting on top of the box and running down the transfer box, making it look like a gearbox / transfer box leak.
My gut feeling is that its the catch can leaking / oil vapor from the breather cooling and puddling on the gearbox.

Going to monitor it and see if the drips start again.


Gave the whole car a good check over. The Ferodo DS3000 pads look about 50% worn, so good to go for Croft.

Ill do a quick tyre rotation front to back before I go to get the most out of the NS2R as I can, but so far im impressed with the wear rate!

Im off to Majorca for a few days for my 30th ( ) and back Monday, I have a trip to the Lakes planned with the S3 Tuesday Wednesday which will be the cars first proper run out since Knockhill back in August last year!

 

[Prawn]

Does your can vent to atmosphere?

if So I'd reckon on it being that.

 

[scotty_24]

Does your can vent to atmosphere?

if So I'd reckon on it being that.

Yup! This is what me and my mate were thinking. Its directly below where I have the catch can mounted.
All is good! I'll monitor it.

To vent back to the TIP, would I just remove the breather from the catch can, and return back to the TIP via a new hockey puck (chucked old one)?

 

[Prawn]

I don't run a hockey puk on mine, just a 25mm line straight back to the TIP.

Note though - if your engine breathes heavily this isn't always the best plan!

 

[scotty_24]

I don't run a hockey puk on mine, just a 25mm line straight back to the TIP.

Note though - if your engine breathes heavily this isn't always the best plan!

Ive cleaned the whole lot up, see how it goes.

This is it, I dont want oil in the intake taking precious ignition adfvance off me LOL

Touch wood my engine doesnt breathe heavy! I may relocate the can breather to down under the car.

Felt unreal driving it last night, feels strong!

Trip to the lakes to stretch its legs next week, cant wait !

 

[Prawn]

I may relocate the can breather to down under the car.

NO!

I know it's common practise, but that's the worst thing you can do in terms of safety, for yourself and others.

Vented down under the car, it'll never drip when parked up, but when you're thrashing it, if the engine DID breathe heavily, you'd be pouring oil containing vapour all over the road / track without even knowing about it.

It'd exit the pipe as vapour, but soon condense hitting the cold air and turn into oil, either causing someone else an issue, or if it's heavy enough, going over your rear tyres.

Been there, done that. the first I knew was when Bill called me over to show me specs of oil on his windscreen from following my car.

I've returned to the TIP ever since.

 

[scotty_24]

NO!

I know it's common practise, but that's the worst thing you can do in terms of safety, for yourself and others.

Vented down under the car, it'll never drip when parked up, but when you're thrashing it, if the engine DID breathe heavily, you'd be pouring oil containing vapour all over the road / track without even knowing about it.

It'd exit the pipe as vapour, but soon condense hitting the cold air and turn into oil, either causing someone else an issue, or if it's heavy enough, going over your rear tyres.

Been there, done that. the first I knew was when Bill called me over to show me specs of oil on his windscreen from following my car.

I've returned to the TIP ever since.

Ahh, I didnt think of this.
The engine doesnt breathe heavy at idle, which is when I see it, but I imagine at full chat that catch can breather will be breating alot more!

Last thing Id want to do it dop oil on to the track /my tyres. Thats a disaster waiting to happen.
Il'll keep the breather how it is! for the moment and maybe think of returning to TIP in the future

 

[scotty_24]

So! Birthday drive over the lakes in the S3

Began the morning taxing the car (ouch) and having a run up the local Shell.
I haven't driven the car properly since August, since it's had its chinafold fitted over winter.
It felt good, really good. I eased it in over the motorway first part of the journey across to Hexham. Just to make sure all was ok after all the work that's been done.
All seemed good so I pulled in and switched to map 1 (341.9 badger bhp)
I headed over Hartside Pass to Penrith and opened her up. Oh.My.God.
The car ABSOLUTELY RIPS.
Like I haven't driven it for so many months it actually scared me. It just keeps pulling and pulling!
I think the exhaust note has changed since removing the pro 4 and fitting the chinafold and it sounds absolutely brutal under boost!
She pulled freely through all the revs and felt utterly mental quick, and handled awesome
I stopped at the Hartside Cafe and found an Insignia VXR full of police training, must be nice !

Went through the lakes via Keswick, Honister pass, Buttermere, Winlatter pass and back to Penrith before heading home to Newcastle.
My lass even had a spell driving the car, first time I've ever gave her the keys !

Amazing day in the car, 250 miles covered. Roll on Croft on the 25th May!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[feck_on_a_stick]

Scenery looks fantastic dude!

 

[scotty_24]

Soo lucky having all this soo close to Newcastle, lush day out

 

[hendo#1]

I'm near Carlisle, I know them roads very well

Pleased to hear the car is going well. Mine is currently at Badger5 getting the hybrid treatment, looking forward to getting it back.

 

[scotty_24]

Awesome roads and great fun in the S3!

What's Bill doing for you ? AET hybrid build?
He will do an awesome job mate, been great with me the few times I've been to see him.
Brutally honest and no messing about, a proper job done first time !

With regards to my car. I notice the oil temps never really got about over 90 degrees the whole drive.
This shows how well the Mocal oil cooler is doing its job.... is this borderline too cold ?
On track the temp gets up to the 100-110 mark, is this ok?

 

[superkarl]

Awesome roads and great fun in the S3!

What's Bill doing for you ? AET hybrid build?
He will do an awesome job mate, been great with me the few times I've been to see him.
Brutally honest and no messing about, a proper job done first time !

With regards to my car. I notice the oil temps never really got about over 90 degrees the whole drive.
This shows how well the Mocal oil cooler is doing its job.... is this borderline too cold ?
On track the temp gets up to the 100-110 mark, is this ok?

i think 100+ is ideal operating temperature.
And degradation can occur at 140+.
This willvary with different oils though

 

[scotty_24]

Sounds as though im doing ok then cheers Karl

 

[scotty_24]

Morning guys.

I Keep my towing eye in the car with me so if **** hits the fan I can screw it in, but with a welly cooler this means detatching a boost pipe etc to make room for the towing eye.
Does anyone use a strap? I fugure that would be ok if the car needed dragged for some reason, then swop to the tow eye if I needed to tow bar it home.Thanks in advance, Pic to show front end of my car

 

[Prawn]

mine's just on a TRS strap at the front, bolted to the chassis leg with the bolt loaded in sheer (very important)

It's been towed out of many a gravel trap by it, and home several times on the road.

they're fine

 

[scotty_24]

mine's just on a TRS strap at the front, bolted to the chassis leg with the bolt loaded in sheer (very important)

It's been towed out of many a gravel trap by it, and home several times on the road.

they're fine

Education time Nick, what does bolt loaded in sheer mean?

 

[Prawn]

This is bad, the plate will bend, and bend the head off the bolt:

 

[Prawn]

and right now I'm struggling to find an image of one that's correct

Basically the mounting plate needs to be in the same plane as the tow rope

 

[Alex C]

 

[scotty_24]

Ive got you !

So bolted up / down into the chassis leg (call it vertical?) and not into the chassis leg (horizontal) like the pic above?

 

[scotty_24]

Excellent !


Cheers lads !

 

[xDaNx]

You or Bill not had any issues with the turbo to manifold bolts coming loose? Using the standard steel nordlocks which apparently are only rated to 200c, they come loose to the point i can unscrew them by hand.
Just put some stainless steel ones on which are rated to 300c more (couldn't find any inconel ones).

http://www.nord-lock.com/nord-lock/wedge-locking/washers/selection-guide/

 

[scotty_24]

You or Bill not had any issues with the turbo to manifold bolts coming loose? Using the standard steel nordlocks which apparently are only rated to 200c, they come loose to the point i can unscrew them by hand.
Just put some stainless steel ones on which are rated to 300c more (couldn't find any inconel ones).

http://www.nord-lock.com/nord-lock/wedge-locking/washers/selection-guide/

Im doing a spanner check on my turbo this week as now the cars had a good few heat cycles since the chinafold was fitted.
I'll let you know.

Theres no blowing noises when I drive, hopefully so far so good with running it gasketless !

 

[scotty_24]

Final Croft checks done


Tow strap mounted (in sheer @Prawn )
Turbo to manifold bolts checked as theyve had a few heat cysles, happy to report they havent budged and the Nordlocks are doing their thing.

Levels all ok.


Lets do this.


Meant to be a sunny day down Croft tomorrow.

I hope the car survives and gives me a good day out. terrified and used to being let down ! ha ha

Will upload photos tomorrow night, il try and keep the pesky Clio's and Hondas at bay!

 

[scotty_24]

Amazing day at Croft, pics to follow!

Soo hot though, was 24 degrees outside temps apparently, absolutley melting inside the car.

Best choise of the day was to wear gloves for driving, my sweaty little paws could now actually grip the wheel!


The Ds3000 pads were awesome, theyll be getting replaced for sure with the same.

Onlu hiccup:
On track I use map 3 so lower boosts, and especially on hot days like yesterday I figure less boost less heat more power.

I did try a few sessions on map 1 and 2, but after a few laps when changine into 5th and accelerating hard I would get a missfire... come off the throttle and roll on slowly and all way good.

Any ideas? Simpily temps possibly pulling timing back?
Car runs 50/50 water meth, BKR7EIX plugs and R8 coils (fully aware theyre just pretty and no performance gain)

 

[Prawn]

Glad you had a good day mate!

Do you have a boost gauge? What was it running at?

I used to find mine upped it's boost on track for absolutely no good reason, it'd run say 21 on the road. Then after a few laps when everything got really hot it'd lift to 23-24. I can only assume it was the ecu trying to meet a load request that's not being reached when everything is red hot. On some occasions this gave me tiny misfires.


How old are your plugs? I found coppers tended to do this for me when they got older and needed replacing, although as you said last night you're on iridiums.

Aside from that, glad you had a top day!

Did you get any vids?

 

[scotty_24]

Yeah I have a boost gauge and the odd time I got to look at the gauge all seemed "normal". Obviously less boost on lower maps but was hitting and holding well.
I think its as you say load and temps related as its never done this on the road. The fact it was as hot as Mordor inder the bonnet yesterday leads me to think that it was just reighning itself in and as you say not meeting load request when red hot.
It was fine for a few laps, and then would start doing it.

To be fair the plugs are a year old now.

You reckon go for coppers not irridiums?

Vids and pics to follow once mymate sorts the go pro footage out

yesterday left me feeling great about the car, it was solid all day!
And also left me feeling that its time for some decent suspension. The Koni shocks and Eibach srpings arent cutting it any more

 

[Prawn]

I changed from coppers to iridiums, Don't think I'd change back.

 

[scotty_24]

ok, ill get another set of irridiums sorted.

I dont want to chase a ghost problem if it was purely down to heat.
@badger5 what do you reckon? You know my car inside out and mapped it

 

[badger5]

you've changed it since I last saw it

 

[scotty_24]

The exhaust manifold yes, other than that its the same as when I saw you

 

[badger5]

and as I said you have changed it..............

 

[scotty_24]

and as I said you have changed it..............

Ah yeah ive changed that due to the pro 4 cracking.

What are you getting at here? Do you think the new manifolds a problem? Or are you meaning I need a trip to you to get the map adjusted to suit?

 

[scotty_24]

 

[scotty_24]

Ive logged the blocks Bill reccomended, can anyone make any sense of them?

Conditions today as logged, 24 degrees so extremley similar to track temps on thursday.
Obviously not as repetetive as being on track trying to find gaps in traffic so the car will have naturally cooled a bit.

 

[badger5]

Ah yeah ive changed that due to the pro 4 cracking.

What are you getting at here? Do you think the new manifolds a problem? Or are you meaning I need a trip to you to get the map adjusted to suit?

you have changed things......... so its not the same..
not being ambiguous, but its a change so checking is sensible.

logs show excessive timing pull.
egt kicking in.

 

[Prawn]

As Bill says, pulling lots of timing at the top end, and egts creeping up into protection over repeated pulls so you can bet your socks it's living in the protection zone on track.

Inlet temps all look OK